2010/2/3鶏龍山・男妹塔(ナンメタプ）～甲寺(カプサ）

2010/2/3(Wed)

I went to a nearby mountain called Geryongsan in Daejeon. Since this mountain is a national park of Korea, and close to my apartment, I often climbed before. But this time, I explored a new course, Donghaksa Temple bus stop through Nanme Tap, to Gapsa Temple. According to the route map which I got at the information center, it was a three-hour course, but it took me 4.5 hours, including lunch time and several coffee breaks.

It was a clear fine day, but very cold. It was minus ten degree centigrade in Deajeon in the morning. It took about an hour from my apartment to Donghaksa bus stop. I began walking at 9 a.m. The trail to Nanme Tap was gentle and easy. I arrived at Nanme Tap at 11 a.m.


(In front of the Nanme Tap　男妹塔の前で、남매탑 앞에서 )

“Nanme” means brother and sister. There are two stone pagodas each symbolizes the brother and the sister. According to the local lore, a young monk was self-training in the mountain between two temples; Donghaksa and Gapsa. One day he found a tiger which was suffering from a needle in its mouth. He saved the tiger by pulling off the needle. Some days later, the tiger brought a beautiful girl from a village. The girl fell in love with the monk, but the monk rejected her love, although he also liked her. The monk proposed the girl to live as a brother and sister so both of them became disciples of Buddha. Later, villagers built two stone pagodas to commemorate their pure love.


[A story about a monk and a girl and a tiger, 虎と修行僧と娘の物語　호랑이와 수도숭과 아가씨의 이야기]

This is the story written on the big board in front of the pagodas. After having lunch near Nanme Tap, I walked down to Gapsa Temple. Gapsa is a beautiful temple with several beautifully painted buildings and cultural treasures.


[Two of Four Heavenly Kings at Gapsa, 甲寺の四天王、갑사(甲寺)의 사천왕]

I took a bus from Gapsa to Yusong, then changed the bus there to Shinsongdon where my apartment is.



2010年2月3日(水)

30代の友人Aと二人で地元の名山、「鶏龍山(ケリョンサン)」に登ろうとしたが、Aの母親が「今日は寒いので止めなさい」と言ったといて前夜になってドタキャンした。仕方なく、韓国でも単独登山をする羽目になった。

確かに寒い。大田の朝の気温は零下10℃だ。しかし、寒いからといって登山を諦める私ではない。熱いコーヒーをポットにつめ、弁当を用意して出かけた。

9時前に登山口に着いた。案内で地図と目的地「甲寺」のバスの時間表をもらった。バスの本数が少なく、午後は3本しかないので、これは正解だった。

東鶴寺バス停から男妹塔(ナンメタプ)までの道は緩やかな坂道でじつに気持ちが良かった。塔までは地図では1時間半の行程だが、2時間かけて登った。

男妹塔は鶏龍山をはさんで東鶴寺と甲寺を結んだ中間の峠の下にある。韓国では兄と妹のことを「男妹(なんめ)」と言う。塔の前には大きな板があり、その板に、坊さんと娘を背に乗せた虎の絵が描いてあり、韓国語でその由来が書いてある。

山の中で修業していた若い僧が、ある日、のどにトゲが刺さって苦しんでいる虎を見つけ、トゲを抜いて助けてあげた。するとその虎は後日、村から若い娘をさらって僧のところへ運んできた。この娘は若い僧に恋をするが、僧は修業の身だからと言って娘の愛を拒む。娘は尼になって、僧の身の回りの世話をし、自分も仏に仕えた。生涯、清い愛を貫いた二人を記念して村人が2つの塔を建てたと言う。

甲寺には午後1時半に到着。途中、凍った滝や、野生のキジを見たりした。甲寺を1時40分発の午後一番のバ
スで儒城(ユソン)へ戻っり、バスを乗り換えて新城洞(シンソンドン)へ戻った。


[Two of Four Heavenly Kings at Gapsa, 甲寺の四天王、갑사(甲寺)의 사천왕]